If you do not want any headache just Stay away from this company!
They bring my 20-foot Container in 63 days from Istanbul to New York!
In the mids of September 2012 I visited their office in Lodi, NJ asked them if you carry personal belongings full of small container. They said normally they dont! but they will do it for me (I used to use their service for my business). They also asked me if they will clear the customs. I said YES and signed the papers (whatever they asked me to sign).
I flew to Istanbul and contacted their local agency, gave my address and on Sunday, September 30, 2012 we loaded the container.
On Monday, I called their Agency (name Demet) and gave her the Packing List on the phone (also, I emailed the list later). I said I will be flying back to US on Wednesday night,is there anything you ask from me?
She said, NO.
When I arrived New York, I turned on my cell phone and bunch of emails run from Latek. Now, they ask:
- an official letter from the municipality of Istanbul that I no longer live in that address
- notorized signature for my custom clearance in Turkey
I was mad! These jerks did not call me three days and when I landed in NY, they began to ask papers that I cannot get without going back to Istanbul!
I called the town clerk in Turkey, I sent my friend to pick up the official letter from the municipality
They I spent another $100 and wrote notorized letter in Turkish Embassy in NY (it took my two days!) and assign the Latek as an agency to clear my customs in Istanbul.
I gave everything by September 8, 2012. During this process, as if they are doing this for free, they were telling me you should know! . If I knew, why I am paying you!
They shipped my container on September 17, 2012!
Container has arrived to Haifa Port (transfer port in Medeterennian Sea) in September 19, 2012.
From Haifa, Latek Confirms, there were a vessel on September 20, but it was to early, so my container missed!
In September 30, there was another vessel. I still cannot expain why LATEK did not load my container to this ship!! (they say, its is because of Sandy Storm! as far as I know, Sand Storm occured in west Atlantic Ocean, not in the East Medaterennian Sea!, liars!)
Finally, on Novamber 7, they loaded my container and the container arrived to NY in Novamber 24th.
In Novamber 30th, afternoon in Friday!, they (Dogan and Kagan) emailed me and said container is ready to pick up and in order to pick, I have to pay them in full. And last free date is December 2nd, which is Sunday!
I was in the doctor appointment, when I checked my email for this message (because they know their poor service, they are afraid to call, they just email!), I wrote that I am in the doctors office, I CONFIRM to pay, just send the Delivery Order to Trucker, so he may pick up and deliver tomorrow. They said NO, you have to pay first!
They are my friends! They know me in person.
Anyway, I ran from doctor s office and deposited cash to their bank account and received the container on Monday, December 3rd, 2012!
I still keep every emails.
TURKON, the express freight vessel between Turkey-USA give transit time as 12-14 days!
Latek said, TURKON does not carry Personal Belongings. When I had these problems with TURKON, I called TURKON s office in New Jersey, They told me off course they carry! and gave me three of their contracted Freight Forwarders . I called them and got three separete quotes from them. All priced between $1900-$2150 and 14-days transit!!
I ended up paying $3822.46 ($1900 freight, $100 Customs, $450 Trucking in Istanbul and rest EXTRAS! )
Two months living other-than-own-house, cost me more than $5000!!
My last word is, STAY AWAY FROM LATEK!
They do not have any wothy service!...
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